[Seeing Sasuke running toward them, Itachi's heart skipped a beat.
In the distance, he also spotted numerous ANBU rushing over.
Sasuke was panting heavily. Just as he was about to speak—
"Big brother… Father and Mother, they…"
"Tsukuyomi."
Itachi cast Tsukuyomi instantly.
Within three seconds of real time, countless repetitions of the massacre played out in Sasuke's mind.
Overwhelmed, he collapsed.
Moments later, Itachi's body dissolved into a flock of crows and vanished.
"Has he escaped?"
Tobirama sighed.
As a veteran of the Warring States Period, his combat experience far surpassed that of the two young Uchiha. But if the enemy was determined only to flee, pursuing them with Nagi's current body was unrealistic.
Nagi calmly put his mask back on.
Soon, ANBU surrounded the area.
Kakashi Hatake stepped forward as their leader.
"May I ask who you are? And what happened here? We hope you will cooperate and explain."
Yugao Uzuki gently picked up the unconscious Sasuke.
Tobirama folded his arms and fixed the ANBU with a sharp gaze.
"Where is your Third Hokage?"
The ANBU felt uncomfortable under his stare. Just as someone was about to object—
They saw the so-called "Konoha F4" approaching.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, walking in front, frowned deeply at the sea of corpses. Then his eyes landed on the masked figure surrounded by ANBU.
The moment he saw that posture—
His hands and feet turned cold.
His scalp tingled.
This is bad… I'm about to be scolded to death.
Tobirama merely glanced at him before addressing the ANBU.
"What are you standing around for? Go search for survivors!"
The ANBU were baffled. Who was this unidentified man to command them?
Koharu Utatane was about to rebuke Nagi—
But Hiruzen hurriedly interrupted her.
"He's right. The priority is locating survivors. Move out!"
"Yes, sir!" ×N
Tobirama spoke lightly to Hiruzen.
"Let's go."
Though his tone was calm, Hiruzen could feel the towering fury behind it.
He turned to Danzō and the others.
"You three come as well. And Danzō—no tricks."
Hiruzen thought bitterly:
He can't scold only me every single time…
Hokage Tower
Back at the Hokage Tower, Hiruzen personally opened the door. After everyone entered, he ordered the guards not to disturb them no matter what happened.
Nagi removed his disguise, revealing his true face.
Hiruzen had just opened his mouth—
Smack!
A resounding slap struck the Third Hokage across the face.
His cheek burned—but he dared not protest.
Homura Mitokado froze in shock.
Danzō reacted first. "You brat—"
Smack!
Another slap.
Danzō was stunned.
Then Koharu and Homura each received one as well.
"You little—!"
Danzō tried to retaliate—
Hiruzen immediately restrained him.
"Danzō, stop!"
Smack!
Another slap landed.
Both sides of Danzō's face swelled.
"Danzō. Your abilities have grown quite a bit over the years."
"…What?"
Danzō was bewildered.
At that moment, Tobirama's chakra erupted violently.
The pressure in the room made all four tremble.
Danzō's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Th-that chakra… Y-you're the Second Hokage-sama?!"
Koharu and Homura immediately realized it too, their bodies shaking.
"Ma—Master… is it truly you?" ×2
"Silence!"
Tobirama's voice thundered.
They shut up instantly.
That instinctive reaction confirmed it—
The man before them was their former teacher.
Tobirama's voice was ice-cold.
"What happened tonight? I gave my life to protect you, and this is how you govern Konoha?!"
The four exchanged uneasy glances.
Whoever spoke first would become the primary target.
Seeing no response, Tobirama slammed his hand onto the table.
"Speak!"
Koharu finally forced herself to answer.
"Ma—Master, we followed your policies regarding the Uchiha. We assigned them to the Military Police Force. We never imagined things would escalate this far…"
Hiruzen's heart sank.
What kind of teammate is this?!
Tobirama let out a cold laugh.
"So this is my fault?"
Koharu paled, quickly backtracking.
The destruction of the Uchiha Clan was equivalent to Konoha severing one of its own arms.
No matter how wary Tobirama had been of the Uchiha, he would never have pushed them to extinction.
And yet his own students had been even harsher.
"Hmph. Explain exactly how you managed the Uchiha all these years."
The four had no choice but to confess honestly.
Lying before Hashirama might work.
Lying before Tobirama?
That was suicidal.
They suspected the Uchiha after the Nine-Tails' Attack.
They isolated them.
The village grew increasingly hostile toward them.
Veins bulged on Tobirama's forehead as he listened.
You learned only how to guard against them—but not how to balance it with conciliation?
Even children understand the principle of a stick and a carrot.
But you pushed them to the brink without offering anything in return.
No wonder they rebelled.
Tobirama asked coldly:
"And what about Itachi Uchiha exterminating the clan? You were involved, weren't you?"
Such talent—wasted.
Hiruzen answered quickly:
"Teacher, we never anticipated he would actually carry it out."
Hiruzen truly felt wronged.
He had been wavering, unsure how to handle the crisis—
And Itachi had acted first.
Koharu and Homura grew nervous.
Danzō had presented Itachi with two dead ends.
They had merely supported him.
Tobirama read their expressions easily.
The ruthless strategy had been Danzō's.
Koharu and Homura had followed.
Hiruzen had hesitated—
And Danzō had seized the opportunity.
"Danzō. You issued the extermination order."
Though phrased as a question—
It was a statement.
Danzō did not deny it.
"Yes, Teacher. I did."]
Reactions Across the Shinobi World
[Onoki: Heh. Just as I thought—there were secrets behind the Uchiha Clan's destruction.]
[A (Fourth Raikage): We should thank Konoha's leadership. That saves us the trouble of dealing with the Uchiha in the future.]
[Rasa: Konoha certainly excels at internal conflict.]
Gaara stared coldly at the man known as his father.
You have the nerve to say that?
[Sasuke Uchiha: What exactly happened?!]
[Danzō Shimura: Hmph. Evil Uchiha brat—come at me if you dare.]
[Shisui Uchiha: Danzō!!!]
Kabuto Yakushi's killing intent flickered as he stared at the screen.
A pale hand rested on his shoulder.
A hoarse voice followed.
"Calm yourself, Kabuto."
Kabuto quickly composed himself.
"My apologies, Orochimaru-sama."